Development of terminal cancer prognostic score as an index in terminally ill cancer patients.

Cancer patients, families, clinicians, and health-policy administrators need accurate information about the prognosis of survival of terminally ill cancer patients. The aim of this study was to compare survival times and prognostic factors, and develop a new prognostic index for terminally ill cancer patients. This prospective study was performed on 91 patients with solid tumor, and therefore, no longer subjects of anti-cancer therapy. Association was sought between survival times and a range of clinical characteristics. The median survival time of 91 terminal cancer patients was 54.0 days. Univariate analysis showed that 11 factors provide statistically significant prognostic survival information. Multivariate analysis adjusted for the primary tumor site demonstrated that severe anorexia (aRR 1.95, 95% C.I. 1.24-3.05), severe diarrhea (aRR 3.49, 95% C.I. 1.10-11.05), and mild confusion (aRR 1.94, 95% C.I. 1.15-3.27) are independent negative predictors of survival. The Terminal Cancer Prognostic score (TCP score), which was based on three predictors proved to be a significant predictor. The TCP score might be a useful index for predicting survival.